Read Board: State: Connecticut

I did some cemetery boxes in Connecticut today. Perfect for winter. In and out of the car, getting warmed up and sipping coffee between boxes. Though the coffee didn't stay hot for very long. But still......

I was at Kettletown SP recently, which had unbelievable damage from the same storm. The 3-mile Pomperaug-Crest Trail loop had hundreds of blowdowns, all of which had been cleared off of the trails. I mean the full length of the trail was blowdowns, not just patches. The Miller Trail loop to the north fared better, but one section also had severe damage. The good news is that despite the massive tree carnage, I was able to find all seven boxes I was looking for. One I had to crawl into the crown of a fallen tree, but it wasn't that bad. Another I had to step over some limbs. I hope most of the boxes at Sleeping Giant fare as well as the ones at Kettletown. Here's a photo at Kettletown: https://photos.app.goo.gl/DaUw29R4qKP7yiBb6

Hello! I just joined AtlasQuest to list a box in honor of my father, my main hiking buddy for my whole life. He actually had an AQ account, papabear24. He passed away in 2017, and this letterbox is full of love and pictures of him hiking with his favorite people.

The box is called Cows on the Regicide, and is near Three Judges Cave at West Rock State Park in New Haven!

For anyone who does find it, it would mean a lot to me to let me know how you enjoyed it as it was his favorite hike and some of his favorite views!

Does anyone have any recollection where these stamps are? I fear they are all together in my abyss called the POD which is currently in a storage facility. I can't remember who picked up the puppies and Pongo and Perdita for me, or even IF they were picked up.

I believe I remember who picked up Evil Queen, Snow White stamps, and Horace and Jasper from 101 Dalmations were picked up, but I can't find them.

I recently created a hybrid which I placed off of the green trail in Cockaponset in Haddam/Higganum. I posted it here, and then attempted to post it on geocaching.com. Oops. Got a message that because it was in a state park, I needed to get a permit from DEEP. (Haven't we had this discussion before? I guess the geocaching folks decided to get strict...) Anyway, after going around in circles for a bit, I figured out that they only wanted things planted on marked trails, with no bushwhacking required--so I moved it. Hopefully they'll approve my new location!! One of these days I'll probably go and plant something else in the original location ;-) . Anyway, if you were planning to go check out my Year of the Dog: Athena hybrid, please be sure you have the updated clues! https://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.php?boxId=301947

1. State Park or Forest: Mohawk State Forest, SharonTrail Name: Blue TrailMap: Mohawk State Forest Trail MapParking Area: Choose one to create a hike of your likingPhoto Locations: Entrance and Cunningham TowerDegree of Difficulty: Various, Depending on where you pick up the blue trail Approximate Length: Various

3. State Park or Forest: Rocky Neck State Park, East Lyme Trail Name: Red Trail to Blue Trail to Yellow Trail (Tony’s Nose Overlook)Map: Rocky Neck State Park Trail MapParking Area: Lot on north side of Beach Access Road, the second entrance to the large parking lot on the rightPhoto Locations: Marsh area, just beyond parking lot and Tony’s Nose OverlookDegree of Difficulty: EasyApproximate Length: 2 miles

6. State Park or Forest: Pachaug State Forest -- Green Falls Area, VoluntownTrail Name: Blue/OrangeMap: Pachaug State Forest Trail MapParking Area: Off Season -- Forest Road, Seasonally Parking Lot near beachPhoto Locations: Bridge at Base of Campground (start of Blue/Orange Trail) and view of Island from trailDegree of Difficulty: ModerateApproximate Length: depends on the season, approximately 5 miles in the off season, 3 miles trail onlyPlease note: The Forest Road is gated in the off season and opens based on mud season. You may need to hike the road in to reach the trail head.

8. State Park or Forest: Mount Tom State Park, LitchfieldTrail Name: Yellow Trail (Tower Trail)Map: Mount Tom State Park Trail MapParking Area: Beach LotPhoto Locations: Kiosk at Beach and View from the TowerDegree of Difficulty: ModerateApproximate Length: 1.2 milesPlease note: There is a logging operation at Mount Tom State Park. Check the park website for updates. The tower trail will be accessible on or after March 15.

9. State Park or Forest: Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford Trail Name: Paths around the parkMap: Harkness Memorial State Park Trail MapParking Area: Main Lot off Great Neck RoadPhoto Locations: Amphitheatre, Beach Viewing Platform, View of Water from the Mansion, Carriage House, Greenhouse, Farmhouse, and Orchard Degree of Difficulty: EasyApproximate Length: 1 mileThings to do in the area: Seaside State Park, on Seaside Drive, is just down the street and is a great spot for a picnic

10. State Park or Forest: Wadsworth Falls State Park, MiddletownTrail Name: Orange and small amount of Blue to access Little FallsMap: Wadsworth Falls State Park Trail MapParking Area: Main Lot near beachPhoto Locations: Big Falls and Little Falls (may be dry in the summer) Degree of Difficulty: Moderate Approximate Length: 3 miles

11. State Park or Forest: American Legion and Peoples State Forest, BarkhamstedTrail Name: Elliott Bronson to Walt Landgraf (Red Trails)Map: American Legion and Peoples State Forest Trail MapParking Area: Lot near Matthies GrovePhoto Locations: Shelter at Walt Landgraf and Kiosk for Elliott Bronson TrailDegree of Difficulty: ModerateApproximate Length: 3.2 miles

12. State Park or Forest: Macedonia State Park, KentTrail Name: White to Blue and Return BlueMap: Macedonia State Park Trail Map Parking Area: By PavillionPhoto Locations: Kiosk by Camp Office and Scenic View from Cobble Mountain Degree of Difficulty: Difficult, not suitable for pets or young childrenApproximate Length: 2 miles

I've got the map done. Where possible, I added exact locations for parking and photo locations. In some cases, you know how vague DEEP can be about the photo locations. In other cases, like the gazebo at Dennis Hill or the seven photo locations at Harkness, I can see the structures on the Google Map aerial and was able to add them directly.

Having done that, I think I'm sadly out for 2019. Only a couple locations look at all interesting. Several are EXACT hikes from earlier years, including the ones for Macedonia, Goodwin, Dennis Hill, and I think Mt. Tom. Several other locations I've already been to and boxed the exact route and location they want you to go to.